Road finale in San Diego

Lots of Dodger fans were here last night hoping to see a celebration. Here’s hoping we’ve got a lot in the house tonight and we can finish this thing off before we head home.

Don’t forget that on Friday back home, we’re near a sell out for the celebration of Tommy’s 60th anniversary. The first 50,000 fans will get replica Hall of Fame plaques and there’s even seats still available in My Town: Italy, where Tommy is going to pay a visit on top of the Italian food and the limited edition t-shirts.

Lineup is pretty standard, but it looks like Andre dropped toward the back end, as he’s had a pretty rough road trip. And Casey Blake gets another day off to get his hamstring where it needs to be for the postseason.

Give me a break……….Andre wasn’t the only player to have a lousy road trip…………in fact, the whole damn team had a lousy road trip!!!! I guess I ahould be glad Joe didn’t bench him! What a crock!!!
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I know, we will probably win this game tonight and, everyone will be happy and celebrating. I, probably will too, even though I am really fed up with the way Joe jerks his players around.

I am not one to comment much about lineups but who would ever figure Loretta protecting Ethier! Wow! At least Andre strikes out swinging while Manny looks at called third strikes. I agree with an earlier post that the Dodgers are missing Blake and Belliard.

Forget the road trip, what about the kind of season that Manny has had the past MONTH or so, but he never moves from being either #3 or #4 in the lineup. Maybe if he was put behind Loretta, he’s shake his f’king a** and do something for a change.

Well glad Torre learn Loney need to be in there against a lefty handed pitcher and not having him be replacement by Loretta but than again we have no choice since Belliard and Blake out and it seem Torre don’t want to trust Dewitt since he been send down 6 times already this year.

Might be a rewrite, don’t know if this has been done before… but here we goooooooo…

Paradise in the L.A. Lights

I remember every little thing as if it happened yesterday
Crashing down the gates and there was not another team in sight
And we never had a team looking any better than they did
And the fans around the country, they were wishing they were us those nights

And those rings, they were, oh, within sight
Never felt so good, never felt so right

Manny knocking all those homers in the April nights
Knocking all those homers in the April nights
C’mon, hold on tight!
C’mon, hold on tight!

Wasn’t cold and lonely in those springtime nights
We could see paradise in the L.A. lights

Ain’t no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed
Because we had won all 13, playing at our best
Ain’t no doubt about it, everybody, go and shout it
Ain’t no doubt about it, we were doubly blessed
Yeah, we had won all 13, then there was Manny’s test…

He blew it all to hell that day
Lucky we had Pierre to save the day
He blew it all to hell that day
Lucky we had Pierre to save the day

:: radio broadcast ::
Okay, here we go, got a real humdinger here, deuces wild, no score, bottom of the ninth, here’s the windup, and there it is, a chopper through the infield, Look at him go! Pierre can really fly! He’s rounding first, and turning up the after-burners, he’s not giving up at all, the ball’s bobbled out in center, and here comes the throw, and what a throw! Pierre slides head first, and he’s out! No, wait, he’s safe, safe at second base, Juan’s making things happen out there.

O-Dog steps up to the plate, here’s the pitch, and Pierre’s going, and what a jump he’s got, charging for third, here’s the throw in the dirt, Pierre safe at third! Can you believe that, stolen base!

Pierre’s got a big lead out there, almost daring daring him to try and pick him off… the pticher glances, winds up, and it’s bunted, bunted down the third base line, the suicide squeeze is on! Here he comes, squeeze play, it’s gonna be close… will Pierre make it…

:: Ned in the McCourt’s Booth ::

STOP RIGHT THERE! I want to know right now
Before we go any further do you want me
Would you have me forever, do you need me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life
Colleti: Dodgers GM, with Frank McCourt and Wife

Do you want me? Would you want me forever
Do you need me? Would you never leave me
Would you make me happy for the rest of my life
You can be Andy Taylor, and I’ll be Barney Fife

I gotta know right now, before we go any further
Do you want me? Would you need me forever…

:: Frank looks up from a copy of the Boston Globe ::

Let me sleep on it, Neddy, Neddy, let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it, I’ll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it, Neddy, Neddy, let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it, I’ll give you an answer in the morning

:: Ned throws the paper aside and belts out ::

I WANNA KNOW RIGHT NOW
Do you want me? Would you want me forever
Do you need me? Would you never leave me
Would you make me happy for the rest of my life
You can be Andy Taylor, and I’ll be Barney Fife

I gotta know right now, before we go any further
Do you want me? Would you need me forever…

Frank couldn’t take it any longer, lord, he was crazy
Then the feeling crept up on him like a tidal wave
And he swore upon his wife September 28th
We win the West, and then the job is mine
HE SWORE, we win the West, and then the job is mine…

So now I’m waiting on Clinching Time to hurry up and arrive
If he remembers Jones, Gonzo, Nomar and Schmidt, I don’t know if I would survive
We had the handshake, our spoken vow
But lord only knows what he is thinking now

I’m waiting now for Clinching Time, it’s all I can do
Waiting here on Clinching Time, so I can Spend My Life With…

I see Billz had his usual problems in the 6th last night. Somebody pointed out yesterday he’s probably only good for 5 innings and then out. Doubtful you can take that approach in the play offs. You’d have to go into the game with the knowledge you were going to yank him early and go to one of the other current starters. That piggy-back thing we hear about. If you used him at all.
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I’ll say it again: we’d better win this thing tonight. This hit-or-miss crap won’t work when Colorado comes to town.

Coming from an Ethieraholic, that is a very lame excuse to move Andre to the bottom of the lineup. I am soooo with Messagebear on this one. Manny hasn’t done squat this entire monthn(and yes, it’s been more than this month), and yet, he remains in his 3/4 spot in the lineup.

If I recall, Andre, even though he was out, created the only RBI of the game last night. Not to mention the 13-pitch at bat compared to Manny’s first pitch popup to the short stop. And, it’s not like Matt has been tearing it up out there either. Not to mention, the entire team has lost 3 consecutive games to the bottom feeders………..why? ………because nobody hit the ball………….nobody.

However, I will remain positive because just maybe he will be the spark to the bottom of the lineup because I have no doubts Andre can bat from anywhere in the lineup.

I think ownership wants to Win this division at Home, that is why we have the laughable line up tonight. Ha Ha!
Already Matt and Manny have done better than they did last night. I am so glad that getting a run across was not left up to Lorreta to fail, with DRE on deck.

Hi Everybody,
Here we go again.
It’s hard to tell if the Dodgers will get home field advantage or how they’ll do in the postseason but this would be a good time for Dr. Jekyll to come out of Mr. Hyde.
Tonight would be a good night to clinch (if ever), their second consecutive N.L. Western Division title, a wonderful accomplishment and stepping stone, because they’ll have all day tomorrow to celebrate.
GO DODGERS!!!!!!(or Brewers)

These guys look like they’ve got the confidence of a bunch of 3rd graders who are about to have their lunch money taken away by the school bully!!! Come on!! Who’s the 1st place team trying to clinch here!?!? Sure looks like the Pads to me!! argh!

oldbrooklynfan ~ The way we’ve been playing lately I would worry about playing the ’62 Mets.
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It looks like we’ll be playing your beloved Cardinals (lol) in the first round. That could be good because they’re playing just as bad as we are.

Well of course I was and is amazing how I spell that word wrong considering I was a spell bee champ in the 3rd and 4th grade. Well the Brewers left the bases loaded and good job to get out of that with a lead offf double Garland.

oldbrooklynfan ~ You are right I need HFA so I don’t have to change my plane reservations. If the Dodgers finish behind the Phillies but ahead of the Cards they will still have HFA for the NLDS, which is all I need.

I don’t think we need the Amber alert anymore…. I found them…. the team has been found!! IN THE GUTTER!!! This is ridiculous….. Someone needs their *** kicked for these kinds of performances!!!! I’m seriously doubting our ability to even win the division now…. Thank God we clinched a playoff berth, or we’d not have made it at all!

PATHETIC!!! Garland’s a washed up, has been bum! Another bogus late seaason acquisition from Ned.
I don’t like what I’m seeing from this team right now. This is not the time to get ice cold with the bats like they are. The puds are taking out their seasons frustrations on the Dodgers. It’s not the first time they’ve played spoiler on this team.

oldbrooklynfan ~ If the season ended this way: 1. Phillies 2. Dodgers 3. Cardinals 4. Rockies. In the NLDS the Phillies would play the Rockies, with the Phillies having HFA in that series and the Dodgers would play the Cardinals, with the Dodgers having HFA in that series. If the Phillies and Dodgers advanced to the NLCS then the Phillies would have HFA in that series. Do you get it now?

jhall – you are absolutely right about being justplainsh*tty right now. I am sure Beav is thinking of hundred more “juicy” not so nice words to decribe this team right now. And if he is thinking this way, can you imagine your father, Dad/Chevelle? You know him and his temper. It is not going to be pretty.

Brandon – LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Video to pass the time away.

You know…………..my son is pitching, and yes, it’s highschool, but he just got the side out……………..strikeout, ground out, a walk and a pickoff. Three up three down :)

jhall – you are absolutely right about being justplainsh*tty right now. I am sure Beav is thinking of hundred more “juicy” not so nice words to decribe this team right now. And if he is thinking this way, can you imagine your father, Dad/Chevelle? You know him and his temper. It is not going to be pretty.

Brandon – LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Video to pass the time away.

You know…………..my son is pitching, and yes, it’s highschool, but he just got the side out……………..strikeout, ground out, a walk and a pickoff. Three up three down :)

I didn’t think of that, the Phillies would have HFA only against the team they are playing, so the games could line up the same way for the Dodgers when they are not playing the Phillies.
GOT’CHA. TBW.

The Dodgers have to forget about winning tonight and concentrate on their own statistics and if they can do that, that could ease the pressure.
Their best chance to win is to give up and relax.
That might be good for the rest of the regular season.
I think once they win a game they’ll be alright.

Here’s my prediction for this game…. We’ll get a fluke double or triple in the late innings, and we’ll score on a ground out… and finish losing 6-1….. Just a guess… See how it stands up…. I mean… Who can argue with consistency…. that’s been our MO for a while

brandon~That goes to show the immense power the infamous ‘whiskerbiscuit’ has over a normally inteligent, and logical heterosexual male. LOL
Simply put, most of the time, males loose their faculties when it’s presented to them.
Sad, but true.

I guess we will get a Hollywood ending. Rox will probably win tomorrow and we will get to duke it out at home with the red hot Rockies. With three chances to win one I like our odds. Celebrating at home will make the champagne a little sweeter.

You’re right about that, jhall. They look like they’re at a funeral. They were on such a high after whipping the Nationals the first game. I thought they’d blaze through that road trip and come home with the division in hand. I hope they get it out of their systems before the playoffs.

Guys… If we lose this game… Then for some crazy, stupid reason get swept by the Rox…. And we watch them celebrate on our field… Do you see our team getting amped up for the playoffs? That would be so demoralizing and lead to being swept by whoever we play I’m sure….

Agreed, Nelly. I was so hoping he would end up in at least the .290’s and he had a good shot before the road trip from hell. Still a great season for him. Hope he lights it up in the final 3 games at home.

Nelly, I guess in a way it’s a compliment to him that a lot is made of every slump because a lot is expected of him. I still have faith that the dream I had the Dodgers won the World Series with a walk off grand slam by Andre will come true ):

bluecrewgirl – I know…………this thing is so very screwed up. The funny thing is……………………..it was supposed to be all about Manny this season. He was getting paid to be THE GUY. However, all everyone talks about is how Andre is not getting the hits this trip. Where is the rest of the team?

Not sure I have any words for what has been going on with the Dodgers lately . Well, I actually do have words but they are all asterisks. The only thing I knew for sure was this road trip was not going to be the cakewalk the media suggested it would be but I had no idea it would be this bad. I have no idea but it does look as if the team has not recovered from Sunday’s loss. They play as if they don’t want to be on the field. Perhaps they are satisfied with knowing they are in the playoffs. I guess I did have some words after all.

Actually, I remember going to Shea Stadium in 2007 on the last day of the season. they still needed one game and…
At least we’re assured of the wild card.
But I’d still hate to blow the division.
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I just know the crowd at Dodger Stadium, if the Rox win tomorrow is the only medicine they need.

You know my gnat fan side of the family just love to watch stuff like this for 4 DAYS IN A ROW NOW!!!!! I know, I know…………….they aren’t even in the playoffs, but if they aren’t in it, nothing would please them more than seeing this team fail. I am sure those Padres fans at the game are saying the same thing.

bluecrewgirl – That would be very sweet if it happened that way. He has worked so very hard and to see him end the season on that note would be fabulous!!!!

Good Night jhall!!!!! We can do this……………….1 game out of 7, I mean 6, I mean 5, I mean 4…………………okay…………1 game out of 3. Take Care and God Bless my friend. Always a pleasure in good Dodger times and in bad.

Even though the Dodgers are an execrable team right now, their abhorrent play does make for a more interesting finish. With a Rockies win tomorrow, they will have the opportunity to go mano a mano or equipo a equipo with the red hot Rox.
The winners will get to pop the champagne in LA where it will taste much sweeter than in Pittsburgh or San Diego. If the Rockies win the division, it will taste really sweet to Jim Tracy.

How ironic would it be for the Rockies to lose Thursday while the Dodgers are off? I have tickets for Friday’s game but I would take a Rox loss tomorrow. The Dodgers already are in the playoffs and the way they have played lateley a full blown beer and champagne orgy seems a bit much right now.

Words of wisdom from Cath Lawson:
“No word of a lie – the best tool I’ve found for achieving business success is ****. The more **** you have thrown at you, the more you learn. And although being in business is stressful, the more **** that hits you at once, the easier it will become later on.

And I know it may seem hard to believe, but all that **** is good for you, no matter how hard it seems to be at the time.

Don’t worry if you don’t know where to find ****. Once you’ve been hit by it, plenty more **** slingers will follow, especially if you’re trying to avoid them. Where there’s ********, there’s usually heaps of **** to sling. I guess that has something to do with the law of attraction – if you focus on something you’re trying to avoid, it’s almost always sure to find you.

Now I used to think I was unlucky. But I eventually began to realise that all the **** that kept hitting me was actually helping me. You see, it hit me every single time I went against my gut instinct. It was as if it was trying to knock me down, every time I went down the wrong path – which was often, because I was stubborn.

The Rules Of **** As A Success Tool

1) The harder it hits you, the more you learn from it.

2) If other people have a habit of slinging it at you, you usually know what direction it’s going to
come from.

3) It can increase your motivation. If we don’t like something, it usually gives us more incentive to
beat it. And most of us don’t like ****.

4) You’ll get your hands dirty if you try to throw it back where it came from.

5) Once you’ve identified a **** slinger – do anything you can to eliminate him/her from your life.
**** slingers have the capability to attract more **** slingers in droves.

6) If you’re constantly being bombarded by ****, it may be a warning that you’re on the wrong path.

**** has helped me in many ways. What about you – have you had heaps of **** thrown at you? Did it benefit you?”
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With all the **** that is now piled up on the Dodgers, there MUST be a pony in there somewhere. :)

At least we now see that the Pads didn’t give up Peavey for nothing – that was great pitching from the other side. The other item is that the Pads have a better record for the past month or even two than our Dodgers. Maybe the idea is to lower our expectations going into the playoffs, and I must admit that it has been working on me.

Wow…we got swept by the Padres, THE PADRES…I don’t understand why, I don’t want to understand why…SAD SAD SAD. Do the Dodgers DESERVE to win the NL West??? C’mon guys fight for it! It seems that they are not putting any effort into playing. Well they are off today and if the Rockies loose tonight, we win But what kind of celebration will that be….ROOKIES want it bad and they will do anything to get it. Dodgers need to get off that loosing train they are on and start playing like CHAMPIONS. Not happy with LORRETA’s holding the player back. It was not time for that kind of crappy play. AY-Ya-yaiiii this BOYS!
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DODGEEEEERS….LET’S PLAY LIKE CHAMPS AND DEFEND OUR TITLE!

What makes me sad about this is that we haven’t been swept all season until last night (although a 2 game sweep is kinda cheap) we have also tied our longest losing streak. I just hope we’re getting these losses out of the way now or it will be a very short postseason for us. Also, when your friends make fun of you for freaking out about every loss even in May and they say there is 162 games it doesnt matter…show them the standings right now cause 1 more win in may or june would make a big difference. GO DODGERS!!!

“Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin
Into the future…”

The Dodgers have a nice shot with Wolf and Kershaw the next two games, and getting up for the Rocks at home should be NO problem. I’d take a Colorado loss today, but would prefer the Dodgers WIN the division, not back in. That said, Billingsley for all the marbles on Sunday would be 50/50. But this is shaping up ominously close to 1996, when the Pods came in 2 back, swept the series, won the division and the Dodgers settled for the Wild Card, having NEVER celebrated their entrance into post season. How did it turn out as both teams bloodied one another, even though both had made the playoffs before the series began? BOTH got swept in the first round, 3-0….

Hi ITD,
I’m watching the Brewer/Rockie game, of course, and I’m hoping the Brewers can get us off the hook.
I really don’t expect the Rox to lose, but you never know.
The Dodgers fought hard to hold unto this division and I’d hate to see them blow it.
GO BREWERS!!!!!

To be truthful, I’m not looking forward to face the Rockies tomorrow, if the division is still up for grabs.
The Dodgers are like ice, right now and the Rox are on fire.
Any help they can get today, will be a blessing.
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I don’t think any team has much of a chance to beat the Rockies right now and I think their heading for the N.L. Crown.
If they ever lose I hope it’s today, so we can win the division again, which might be as far as we go, this year, especially the way the Rockies are going.

The day off for our Blue Boys might be good, then again who knows. I wonder if their is some personality chemistry gone wrong in the dugout. Joe or more likely Bowa will stamp that out. I may be of the unpopular view that I want the rox to win today and so we can have a showdown with them at the ravine. Either way it plays out, the Dodgers are in the post season, perhaps going to Philly or hosting the Cards. When the second season starts, I can only hope The Dodgers will be in their A-Mode, and that why a meaningful 3 games with the ROX would do us good. Go Dodgers!

They have been playing like they just lost there dog, they’ll get over rover and pull it together…I have faith. Manny hasn’t looked that good swinging the bat, and we all know that is wherein lies his stregnth.

I too would rather they win it on there own, off course, for pride sake, but the way it’s going right now I really don’t care how they win it, the pressure is very strong on the team and us fans.
They should do better at home but I can’t forget the Mets of ’07 and’08.

I don’t know about the rest of you but I feel like I’m on an elevator that’s going in one direction “down” and it won’t stop.
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I think we’ll be on pins and needles tomorrow.
Of course carrying a wild card in our hands.

I’m in a time warp, so nobody will read this. Also, it’s slightly insane, but aren’t all Blue fans at this time of year?
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Last year, late in August, the Dodgers lost eight in a row. Then they turned it around and won 14 of the next 16 games. Maybe Joe is trying to replicate this scenario, but push it about 33 days out to make it happen in late September and into October/November.
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I told you it was an insane thought.

THE LAW OF AVERAGES is on our side.
The Rockies have won 3 straight, without counting today, with 4 to go, will they win their last seven in a row in the regular season?
Will the Dodgers lose their last seven in a row?

If I were to choose a team other than the Dodgers, I would go with the Rockies too. They show a lot of heart.
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But I haven’t given up on the Blue just yet. I’d like to see them take at least 2 out of 3 from the Rocks this weekend.

It was Tuesday. We were in the middle of our nightly 5 strikeouts to close out the game. Vin was too happy, it seemed to me. I was so angry at our impotence that I couldn’t take his praise for the other team, who deserved it. I can’t leave a game early, even on TV.

So I muted Vin.

That set me to think a lot about myself in the past couple of days. What is it that makes me so angry about something that has absolutely no real impact on my life and family? Why can’t I be more like Vin, who sounded genuinely excited about how the Dodgers’ implosion of the last week has made this weekend series something special? Am I a bigger Dodger fan than Vin? Hell no. That’s not possible. Do I have more anger issues than Vin? Obviously. But does it have to stay that way?

I’m going to try my best to be more like Vin. I’m going to try to be excited about the weekend and not looking to bash a table into toothpicks with a bat. I’m going to try and have fun with it. Toy department, and all that. No matter what happens, I have to go to work Monday morning and continue to make a living.

I’m not sure I can do it after all these years, but I’m going to try. It has to be healthier than what I’ve been doing for 56 years.

A few pertinent lines from “If” by Rudyard Kipling:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs …….

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same…….

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss………

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

Good afternoon ITDers!
Boy, I am sleepy here at work. I got in late this morning from San Diego. I was one of the fans that Kcal interviewed after the game last night. Just like all Dodger fans, I was frustrated with these losses and yes I said I am concerned with this team.
I got a little down on the team in my latest post but I will be rooting them on to victory at Dodger Stadium.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

It’s pretty hard for me to pick a winner this year in the N.L.,
with the Cardinals and Phillies looking weaker, at the moment and the Rockies finishing a lot stronger, it’s very difficult to figure out how the Dodgers will do.
It looks pretty much like the Yankees in the A.L.

Good thoughts, Eric. None of us can really be like Vin, but all of us can try. If we have no aspirations, then obviously we won’t get there.
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Meanwhile, I’m with D4 – GO DODGERS GO!!!!
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Either Wolf or Kershaw will finish off the Rockies.

I really wouldn’t have wanted to back into the pennant, so now it will be up to us to win it against the contender. We only have to win one, whereas the Rockies would have to take all three in our home yard. I’ve got to admire the total team effort of the Rockies no matter how this comes out. It’s just like the show they were putting on two years ago. They don’t have but two consistent hitters in Helton and Tulo, and let’s remember that they gave up Holliday before the season started. Of course, they don’t have a “blowhard” in their clubhouse either, so maybe that makes us even. In any case, if we don’t clinch on this home stand, I suggest that the fans burn down Mannywood – dare I hope with Manny in it.

I must say, I was a little depressed listening to Vin last night as well. He was going on and on about how well the Padres were executing everything. However, he is the only announcer I know that does that. Sure, others announcers talk about the other team, but just the minute details Vin knows about every player from every team is just extremely fascinating to me. Eric – Every morning I walk into the classroom I think of your phrase about the Dodgers being our toystore (and what an amazing toy store it is too) and it really does put our daily lives in perspective. Thanks for the reminder :)

eric, it’s real simple for me: they’re either good enough or they’re not. I never felt they were one of the best teams in baseball, in spite of their record. Their starting pitching has always been suspect at best and shoddy at worst. Ned, you take the hit on this one. And the kids still need to grow. Ethier and Kemp are close to being consistent producers, Loney lagging, Martin a disaster. Kershaw close, Broxton still a deer in the headlights come REAL crunch time (like clinching a division???!?!?) and Billingsley, an enigma. I won’t even comment on the myriad PVLs as I have no emotional investment in them and they don’t represent the future. Still say DeWitt is a keeper, a grinder, a player.

Good afternoon ITDers!
Boy, I am sleepy here at work. I got in late this morning from San Diego. I was one of the fans that Kcal interviewed after the game last night. Just like all Dodger fans, I was frustrated with these losses and yes I said I am concerned with this team.

By crzblue2 on October 1, 2009 2:53 PM

lol kcal interviewed fans weird. They don’t even show the interviewed of fan.

I’d rather the Dodgers actually WON the division, not getting in by the Rox losing. Nobody could possibly be happy with the last week,but all we can do is hang in there and hope some baseball players show up tomorrow. Not some over paid, pampered duds.

Eric,
thanks! I have not read Rudyard Kipling in forever. I saw Vin with Bll DeLurry walking by. Those two are always together. Oh, and say two “hail Mary’s”, ok, maybe two”Vincullisms.”
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Crash,
If it wasn’t because of Dodger fans, Petco would have been deserted. The average daily attendance for the two days was 24K.
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

I have been asked today if I thought the Dodgers lost these games on purpose just to clinch at home. Why would anyone believe such a silly thing?

This is not about which is the best team. I recall earlier in the season when things were going very well for the Dodgers that many on this blog were happy but not convinced that the Dodgers were indeed the best in baseball. The last two Dodger World Series winners were never considered the best team but all that matters at the end is who is holding up the trophy and spilling alcoholic beveages all over themselves.

And Eric, thanks for bringing some of us down to Earth. My wife gets on me all the time for being in a bad mood when the Dodgers or UCLA lose a game. I know it is just a game and life goes on no matter the outcome of some silly game. But she is right; some people get so angry when their teams don’t do well or have to rag on fans of the team that doesn’t win (like a certain someone who visits this blog from time to time). This is supposed to be fun and entertainment and no one can deny the Dodgers haven’t entertained us this season and kept us focused since day one.

And finally, although T.J. Simers wanted the Dodgers to clinch in a game Vinny was calling, Simers did not say the game had to be at Dodger Stadium but so be it. Even Vinny commented about it not being right for the Dodgers to clinch on a day off and how nice it would be to clinch at home. Who wants to argue with Vin? It just makes Friday’s game all that more interesting and I have a ticket to that game.

lbirken, granted that ’88 team was not the most “talented,” and the national media let L.A. know about it every day and twice on Sunday all through October and beyond. But that ’88 team had two things this club doesn’t even come close to possessing: a soon-to-be Cy Young award winning, lights-out stopper like Orel Hershiser, and a take-no-prisoners, hard-a** leader like Kirk Gibson who would have absolutely chewed this team’s butt to shreds by now.

Kahli, you are right on; that team had a real leader, not some happy go lucky steroid user. I wonder how hard it is for the Gibson’s and Bowa’s to deal with today’s ball players. Nothing against Joe Torre but I have thought many times how would Tommy Lasorda have dealt with the lethargic play we have seen the last few weeks. I can still see him coaching at third during losing streaks trying anything he could to change the momentum. Those were the days.

STRESS RELIEF
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One day old man Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the Illinois State Fair. There is this man selling plane rides in his single prop show plane for $10 per person. Stumpy looks to Martha and says, “Martha, I think I really should try that.” Martha replies, “I know you want to Stumpy, but we have a lot of bills, and you know the money is tight, and $10 is $10.” So Stumpy goes without. Over the next few years they return every year, and the same thing, Stumpy wants to ride, but Martha says no money.

Finally, when Stumpy and Martha are both about 70 years old, Stumpy looks to Martha, and says, “Martha, I’m 70 now, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance again, so I just have to have a ride in that there airplane.” Martha replies in the same old fashion, and Stumpy kind of slumps down. The pilot is standing near by and overhears the conversation…

The pilot pipes up, “Excuse me folks, I couldn’t help but hear your situation, and I have a deal for you. I’ll take both of you up together, and if you can both make the entire trip without saying a word, or even making the slightest sound, I’ll give the ride for free. But if either of you make a sound, its $10 each.” Well, Martha and Stumpy look at each other, and agree to take the ride.

The pilot takes them up, and starts to do loop de loops, twists, dives, climbs and spins. No sound. The pilot lands the plane, looks back at Stumpy and says, “Sir, I have to hand it to ya, you didn’t make even the slightest sound and that was my best stuff.” Stumpy looks back at the pilot and says, “Well, I was gonna say something when Martha fell out, but $10 is $10!”.

lbirken, what do you think is my opinion of what Tommy or Gibby would say (to paraphrase Tommy!!!)? northstates, I think the Dodgers win tomorrow night behind Wolf. The Rockies may be hot and cocky right now, but two things may work against them: 1) they’re in the playoffs as of today and that indefinable “edge” is now dulled. 2) even better, they know in their heart of hearts, that the Dodgers have owned them. Believe me, when a team has beaten you consistently, you can talk the talk, but deep down, you worry that they’re just too tough come crunch time. Bad match-ups or whatever you want to call it. All that said, it all means NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s why sports is so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“We’re celebrating right now. We’ll worry about that (L.A.) tomorrow,” Todd Helton said as his teammates sprayed him with beer and champagne. Tracy’s not planning on resting any regulars in Los Angeles.
“Until we get beat a game, we’re going to try to win the division,” Tracy said.
That means every team in the playoffs has partied…except the Dodgers…..

Hello Gang!!! Tough week for our Dodgers!!! Oh well, good news is that we are still in the drivers seat, are in the playoffs, and control our own destiny. We take care of business at home this weekend and we take the NL West and most likely home field advantage. I like our chances. I just saw that if we finish tied with Philly for best record, we get the nod as we beat them in the season series 4-3!!! I had forgotten about that!! In a way, this may be a sweeter way to win the division. At home, head to head with the opponent. I believe our guys will get it done. Regardless, its gut check time and we will see what this team is made of!!!! GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jhall’s in the ITD House!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good points as always, just as many have today………..lbirken, Kahli, NSB, OBF, Crash, D4, and Dodgereric to name a few (or more). We could have celebrated just making the playoffs, but being Dodger fans, we want more, and we are willing to wait until it’s ours for real.

These last few games have really made it very apparent what Casey Blake means to this team.. I hope he is OK!!! Very underrated and unsung player. Ironic, as that is part of what makes him so valuable. Lots of intangibles. Leads by example, very professional, gets the job done, and doesn’t care about individual accolades. I think he may be our teams MVP this season. Andre is also right there and is also developing into a Casey Blake type of player that will be an asset to this team for years to come. JMO!!!

Here’s a statement by Rockies owner Charlie Monfert that sounds like the Dodgers’ philosophy of bygone years: “I like our team because they’ve come up through the system,” Monfort said, praising a squad that started nine home grown players in Thursday’s clincher.

I think that’s great! I know that I get more pleasure from success with home grown players (and management personnel) than from obtaining them from other organizations.

Also interesting to note, it took a Dodger payroll of $100,414,592 to reach the playoffs, while the Rockies made it on $75,201,000 (payroll numbers according to USA Today.)

I am enjoying my class alot more than last year, so everyday just seems better than last year, as far as work is concerned anyway. So, it definitely helps make the rest of the day good when you come home from work in a better mood.

Time Warping again!!! Great philosophy for building a team Fox. We got away from it for awhile. Funny, but if you subtact the ill advised contracts for Schidt and Jones the cow, our payroll is close to the Rockies!!! LOL!!!

At least Andre cares he had a terrible series, as most in this article seemed to say.

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Torre said he will spend the day off with family. Most players said they wouldn’t be watching the Rockies’ day game. Andre Ethier, 1-for-29 on the trip, said he’s going to the local batting cage.

jhall – speaking of the cow. I know Shad mentioned this earlier, but he went 0-4 with 4 K’s and managed to get an RBI. I am guessing Sac Fly or IBB. His average is now at .207. He is one of many positives this season. The positive is he is someone else’s problem, and we didn’t have to leave through the agony a 2nd season.

That is for sure jhall!!!!! I grew up around Classic Cars. My dad had a 38 Ford, a candy apple red 37 Coupe, a Golden Rod Yellow 55 Thunderbird, a couple Mustangs and a whole bunch of other cars in between. Me and my older younger brother would go on car club outings a couple times a month with my parents and be around those cars all the time. So, I learned to appreciate them at a very early age.

Yes, you do!!! Good Night jhall!!!!! Thanks for the chat. I was doing lesson plans and paying bills. The time went by much better. Take Care and God Bless you too :) They will do this……………………..I know they will. We still believe in them……………always will :)

NSB,
You had me cracking up with the joke about the $10! Thanks! I needed that! Tower of Dodger Power! I like that too!
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I hope they all went to the Batting cages but I imagine some of the players went to L.A. Live a screening of “El Beisbol: The story of Latinos in Baseball” (a two-hour TV documentary in the making) and the fundraiser and auction. Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda were going to be there.
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Is it a full moon tomorrow when Wolf restores order?
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

It is just a baseball…………..Hit It…. Catch It….Throw It…….
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It is just a game …………..Play It……..
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It is not just a ring however…..It is the cherished ring……..
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BRING IT TO L.A. IN 2009 BOYS!!!!!!!!
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GOOD NIGHT and GOD BLESS EVERYONE……
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GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The boys in blue just need to go out there tonight and have fun. If they have fun we have fun. I am glad they are home. It feels so much better to win at home.

I don’t care about the statistics. I don’t care about the road trip. I care about the team. It is Lasorda’s anniversary and that makes it even more special. They’ll do it for Tommy, for us, and for themselves.

If the Dodgers fall on their faces and get swept (shudder to think) they will have never celebrated their entrance into the playoffs. Granted, that potential sweep by the Rocks is a long three days off……but if the baseball gods decree it so, did Torre make a mistake by not celebrating last Saturday? Even the Rockies celebrated with champagne yesterday. Shades of 1996. Not only would the Dodgers be on a giant downer, but they’d have absolutely NO ceremony to launch them into post-season…no chance to blow off a little steam and hug each other for a long, trying, successful season that a bad final week can’t diminish. Torre always talks of “today” but he was certainly looking at “tomorrow” with the no-celebration decision. Or was it a team decision?

Good morning ITDers!
I am super excited about tonight because
I have a feeling, that tonight is gonna be a good night!!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATeCoE_fl6o
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I came to work singing that song and one of my co-workers is saying “ohoh Emma is ready to celebrate!.” another is telling me “slow down girl.”.
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Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

We are about to stat our weekly meeting and because some time ago I told him about the show “the best Damn Sport show period”, that they do a “Last word.” They always ask me to say that before ending the meeting so today I will play “I have a feeling that tonight is gonna be a good night.”
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Good morning ITD boys and girls!
Okay, let’s put this road trip behind us. I am not going to think about it anymore. My conversation with my mom last night summed it up for me best. My husband and I are going to the game tonight. So last night, I called my mom (for the first time after Wednesday’s game). When I called her, the first thing out of my mouth was, “I don’t want to talk about it.” She knew EXACTLY what I was talking about. And we didn’t talk about “it.” I just want to enjoy tonight’s game; the Dodgers’ crappy (will that get censored out?) road trip is a distant memory. Well, I can’t stay for too long; I’ve got a lot of studying to do.

RANDY WOLF AINT THE ONLY WINNER!!!!!!!
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THIS WHOLE TEAM IS MADE UP OF WINNERS!!!!!!!
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NOW GO OUT AND ROCK US BABY!!!!!!!!!!
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4OXrmxDp44
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ALL NIGHT LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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LET’S GO DODGERS, LET’S GO!!!!!!!!

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